Benfica extend Pereira´s contract

Benfica’s Uruguayan international right-back Maxi Pereira has signed a new contract until 2014.

The Lisbon-based club have also spent 2.7 million euros to buy the remaining 30 per cent of the player’s economic rights from former club Defensor Sporting, with a 20m euros release clause added to the contract.

Pereira originally joined the Portuguese outfit in the summer of 2007 for 3m euros where he spent his first season playing as a right winger.

However, since Nelson’s departure to Real Betis in 2008, the 27-year-old has successfully adapted to the right-back position.

Pereira has also won 59 caps for Uruguayan and was a key member of the side that won the 2011 Copa America.